I was the teen who kept track of which bands were coming to town (Manhattan) back in the 1970s. I waited on the rotary-dial telephone line for long stretches, scoring tickets on Ticketron and then re-selling them to my friends, who accompanied me to concerts.

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Fast-forward to 2000, when I fell in love with the movie Almost Famous and Kate Hudson’s character. After all, I had long fantasized about being a creative muse or “band aid,” without the doomed romance and risky sex, of course.

In recent years, I have been planning travel around the tour schedule of one of my favorite bands: The English Beat. I’ve seen them in multiple cities and have even befriended (on social media) several of the band members. Chatting with a few of them post-show, I felt “almost famous” myself, and although I was never invited backstage or aboard the tour bus, I was able to score a couple of copies of their concert playlists, and I bought some merch this past summer.

The lead singer, Dave Wakeling, is my age (69; our birthdays are nine days apart), proving that rocking on the road is a timeless and ageless activity.

Here are some ways you too can be a mid-life band-aid (which sounds and is way more respectable than groupie!). Combine your love of music and travel as follows.

Plan Travel Around Tour Schedules

If you have a favorite band, check their website to see when they are coming to a place you’d like to visit. If you’re especially adventurous, look at tour stops in exotic venues or destinations you may have been itching to see. Rather than seeing them two towns over from where you live in the Midwest, maybe you engineer a trip to Seattle to see them.

Connecting with fellow band fans can expand your social circle as you travel.

Don’t be afraid to go to a concert or performance solo. I’ve done it many times and have always connected with fellow band fans who “adopted” me, as we all danced together and chatted about our favorite tunes before and after the show. You can also check out MeetUp groups in your destination city to see if any social gatherings are happening around the band’s performance.

If you’re traveling solo but decide to spring for an extra ticket (just in case) to a very popular act, you can sometimes sell it for a profit. I once came home from a concert with a tidy profit this way. Not a bad deal!

When you’re in the city or town, create an itinerary (music-focused or otherwise) that enables you to enjoy a new destination before and after the performance. Last summer, I was in Iowa and discovered a vintage stereo equipment store. Vinyl retailers have made a comeback. 

Music and Travel: Rock Out at Festivals

You have lots of options here. 

Especially during the spring, summer, and fall months, music festivals abound. They sometimes feature a wide range of food and craft vendors, and you can combine a love of music with a passion for eating, drinking, and shopping.

Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Glastonbury: There are dozens of music festivals to travel to and get your fix.

For example, I went to a beer and music festival in Colorado with a girlfriend a couple of years ago. We turned the weekend into a hiking and chilling adventure. Festivals are also a great way to discover new musicians. At that particular festival, I became a fan girl of a country rock duo and began following them on social media so I could stay in tune with new music and tour dates.

This is a comprehensive directory of festivals. As you can see, you have a wide and eclectic range from which to choose. 

Go Exploring: Music and Travel Harmonize So Well

Maybe a favorite band of yours is playing in a place you don’t know much about: Toledo, Ohio. Worcester, Massachusetts. Check the band’s fan-club social media accounts or MeetUp to see if any activities are happening that you might join.

Discover a new town where a beloved band is playing. Be a tourist: Museums, food halls, sports, and more await!

No luck? Put apps and search engines to use to find cool stuff to do. Toledo has a fabulous art museum, and Worcester is a stone’s throw from Boston and perhaps a Red Sox game is scheduled. Check it out! It doesn’t have to be all music, all the time.

Geek Out and Rock Out

A fan of both history and music, I often conduct an online deep dive into the history and discography of a band or musician I love.  I get out my earbuds and listen on the way there and en route home. You can delve into musical history at your destination, too.

Immerse yourself in music lore, when possible, as you travel. It can expand your journey and make it more memorable.

I know one woman who went to see a favorite classic rock band play near Woodstock, NY. She went to the museum at Bethel Woods, which is a about 60 miles away but devoted to the original Woodstock festival. While in Woodstock, sneaked a peek at the famous Big Pink, where Dylan and the Band recorded, and otherwise immersed herself in local music lore.

Can’t Get on the Road?

If those Stones tickets are too pricey or your schedule doesn’t allow for travel, a musical staycation is the next best option. Here are some ways to enjoy your favorite music or discover a new genre without leaving your air-conditioned home. Some activities to consider follow.

Priced out of Stones tickets or can’t spare any vacation days? Consider a music staycation to get you in the mood.

Have you ever dreamed about being a late-life rock star? I started taking drum lessons in my late 40s. It was the one instrument I was forbidden to play as a little girl. Better late than never! Singing lessons, music history classes, and other music-related courses are now also available online, so you can pick a skill or a musical genre and let your keyboard (the computer one) carry you away.

You can also indulge in music-related movies. From Bach to the Beatles to biopics of famous musicians.

When you wear your band merch (hat, tee shirt, or other obvious clothing article), it may spur conversations when you’re out and about doing local errands.  Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet a new buddy to be your travel partner when you do head out on the road for a show again.